‘He might be hanging around,’ Bonnie finished for her as she found her little sewing box. ‘We should call the police.’
‘No, I don’t want that. It’s… well, it’s complicated.’
Bonnie sighed. ‘Why don’t I make you a cup of tea. That’ll make you feel better.’
After she took the tea to Faye, Bonnie found the appropriate colour of cotton from her sewing box, took a seat at Howard’s desk and got started on the repair to the hoodie.
Faye sipped her tea, surveying the room with a smile. ‘So this is where Howard sat when he came to the Midnight Book Club. It feels kind of special to be here.’
Bonnie murmured an agreement.
Faye’s smile disappeared. ‘I hope I don’t sound like a stalker.’ She looked so panicked Bonnie almost laughed.
‘You don’t, dear.’
Faye set her cup down. ‘Think about it, this man joins a book club hosted by a woman who lives thousands of miles away, and then she turns up on his doorstep?’ She held out her hands as if to ask what did that tell you?
‘You know that sounds an awful lot like a plot in one of Howard’s books.’
‘A book Howard would’ve enjoyed,’ Faye added conspiratorially. ‘I could imagine it as the plot of a psychological thriller. Not my favourite genre – a bit too scary for me, you know.’
‘The world can be a bad place,’ Bonnie agreed, ‘why be reminded?’
‘Exactly,’ said Faye.
As Bonnie darned the hoodie she asked Faye, ‘Where are you staying? Are you local?’
‘I’m in a caravan in West Lulworth.’
Which meant she would need someone to take her home just in case a concussion was lurking. She didn’t think it was, but Bonnie would never be able to forgive herself if she sent Faye on her way and something happened to her. She clocked her wine glass on the desk and knew she couldn’t get behind the wheel. She wondered whether Faye had seen the glass too. She probably thought Bonnie was drowning her sorrows, but she wasn’t. She’d opened it on a whim that afternoon. It was the first time she’d had a drink since she lost Howard, and she’d drawn comfort remembering their first night here in the cottage when they’d opened a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon, which Howard had been given on retirement and was saving for a special occasion.
‘Can someone come to meet you?’ Bonnie asked. ‘It’s wise not to be alone after a possible concussion. Just in case.’
‘I could get my dad,’ said Faye, ‘but then…’
‘Then you’d have to explain what happened.’
‘I’ll tell him about it. But I would rather he didn’t have to worry just yet.’
‘What about your friend? Would she come back to escort you?’
‘Margot?’ Faye shrugged. ‘Maybe. She doesn’t have a car, but we aren’t far from each other really.’
Bonnie handed the hoodie back to Faye. ‘It’s a fix, but I’m not sure you’ll approve.’
‘Are you kidding?’ She turned the garment to all angles. ‘You can barely make out the tear. The coloured cotton is a perfect match.’
Bonnie was happy she’d done a good job, but she felt uneasy with the company all of a sudden. ‘So, your friend?’ she prompted.
‘I can call a taxi, then I’ll be safe.’
‘No, you need someone with you.’
‘But I feel fine. Honestly.’
‘I know you do. But if you won’t call your dad then it’ll have to be someone else.’ Bonnie was firm on that and it reminded her of when she’d had to set the ground rules at work. She quite missed the responsibility.
‘I suppose I could call Margot. She might come here and get a taxi with me to make sure I get back all right.’
